Leslie Claudius
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leslie Walter Claudius | ||
| Born |
25 March 1927 Bilaspur, British India | ||
| Died |
20 December 2012 (aged 85) Kolkata, West Bengal, India | ||
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) | ||
| Playing position | Halfback | ||
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| Bengal Nagpur Railway | |||
| Calcutta Customs | |||
| National team | |||
| Years | Team | Caps | |
| 1948–1960 | India | 100+ | |
Medal record | |||
Leslie Walter Claudius (25 March 1927 – 20 December 2012) was an Indian field hockey player from Bilaspur. He studied in South Eastern Railway (Now SECR) English Medium School Bilaspur, which has produced many national sportsmen.
Leslie Claudius shares with Udham Singh the distinction of being one of the only two Indian players to win four Olympic medals in field hockey. To his gold medals in 1948, 1952 and 1956, he added a silver in 1960 when he captained the team that reached the final against Pakistan. He was the first player ever to earn 100 caps, and competed for India, in addition to the Olympics, on their European tour of 1949, Malaysian tour of 1952, Australian and New Zealand tours of 1955, and at the 3rd Asian Games in 1958. After the 1960 Olympics, he continued to compete domestically, retiring after the 1965 season. In 1971, he became the sixth Indian hockey player to be given the Padma Shri Civil award by the Indian government.
Leslie Claudius had joined Calcutta Customs Department as Preventive Officer and retired as Assistant Collector of Customs. He was a member of Calcutta Customs Club and represented the Calcutta Port Customs Commissionerate in the Aga Khan Tournament in 1948. Leslie Claudius not only brought international glory but also kept the Calcutta Customs Club flag flying high.